Hardest Mario Games

Highlights

• Mario’s popularity and relevance in gaming is undeniable, making him a cultural icon for gamers of all generations.
• Some Mario games can be incredibly challenging, testing players’ skills and requiring strategic thinking to overcome difficult levels and foes.
• While there are some Mario games that are considered difficult, others, like Hotel Mario, are not well-received due to clunky controls and tedious gameplay.

Super Mario is one of the biggest gaming icons in the entire world, both new and old gamers recognize this Italian plumber’s face, and most of the time, they don’t even have to be gamers. Nintendo has created an IP that will be with them for all time, a game that can span multiple lifetimes and still be going strong. Most Nintendo haters constantly complain about how the company relies on its mascot for the majority of its video game releases… but that is exactly the point! Mario is a cultural icon and his hold over gaming across multiple genres is what makes him so relevant even to this day!

It started back on the Nintendo Entertainment System with Super Mario Bros., and the legacy has continued through the generations leading to its latest console, the Switch, with Super Mario Odyssey. With such a vast lineup of Mario titles over the decades, there are naturally quite a few that can be tricky even for older gamers — but which among the dozens of Mario games are the hardest? While most people argue that the point of Mario games isn’t to be hard or challenging, the following games can certainly change that notion!

Updated on December 27, 2023 by Ritwik Mitra: Many mascots haven’t managed to stay relevant as games started catering to mature audiences. However, there’s one beloved Italian plumber who is arguably one of the most recognizable faces in gaming, with Nintendo making sure that their beloved character was featured only in the best games around. Mario has become a household name at this point, and most players would love to check out the many fun titles he’s been a part of, including some challenging games that players will have a great time with.

24 Paper Mario

Toughest Level: Dark Days In Flower Fields

If one were to rank the hardest Mario romps, there’s a good chance that this RPG classic for N64 would at least appear in the lower regions for quite some people. Like most role-playing games, this colorful journey allows players to grind and continually gain strength. And early on, the experience is whimsical and simple, as Nintendo eases players into the journey.

But throughout this 23-hour ride, things start getting quite a bit rougher than its cute graphical style would let on. If Mario’s not thoroughly prepared for battle, with the proper abilities and items, there’s a good chance he’ll perish. This is especially the case with some of the tougher foes, such as the infamous “Master,” who must be taken out three times; each instance growing tougher.

23 Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

Toughest Level: Final Clash Against Mega Bowser After Finding All Cat Shines

The blend of old-school Mario and 3D platforming is seemingly an attempt to make the 3D Mario experience more accessible, but in the case of this converted Wii U game, it often makes for some tricky mechanics that can be hard to pin down.

Of course, this is still a fun and polished rendition of the plumber and company — especially when it comes to this more robust, refined version on Switch. Still, Super Mario 3D World can be rather jarring to both 2D and 3D fans, as the game largely tries treading that line in between. Added to this is the tougher, more frantic Bowser’s Fury content, which adds even tougher baddies and busier level design.

22 Super Mario Bros. 2 (Western Version)

Toughest Level: World 5-1

This bizarre version of Mario is the result of Nintendo of America opting to “rebrand” an existing game (Japan’s Doki Doki Panic) because the original “Super Mario Bros 2,” known in the West as The Lost Levels, was deemed too hard. Taking notes? Good, this will be on the test.

Ironically, though, this reworked rendition ended up being quite difficult in its own right, especially when revisiting it all these years later. Some fairly stiff mechanics, ample digging and exploration, and spooky Phanto masks that swiftly chase Mario — make for a uniquely tough journey. Playing as the high-jumping Luigi or dress-floating Peach can help matters, but they only go so far.

21 Hotel Mario

Toughest Level: The Entire Game Because Of The Clunky Controls

A Mario game that fans and Nintendo themselves would love to forget, Hotel Mario for the Philips CD-i is generally viewed as an awful chapter in this beloved franchise. From the cheesy cutscenes to the restrictive controls, Hotel Mario is not a place most would want to sleep.

But if that’s not bad enough, the game is also difficult to complete, as Mario must juggle shutting various doors; a task that’s both tricky and tedious. This isn’t helped at all by the various Philips CD-i controllers which are all not designed with a Mario platformer in mind. Progress can instantly be wiped out by an enemy coming through a door at an unfortunate time. Unlike other games on this list, this is one difficult Mario game that isn’t worth the time of fans.

20 Mario Party (1999)

Toughest Level: Platform Peril

In terms of individual minigames, fans can make an argument for plenty of Mario Party games to be considered the hardest. However, most would agree that the original for the Nintendo 64 still stands out for its unforgiving design.

Not only are some of the minigames in this title simply brutal, but the controls aren’t as tight as later entries. Players are also forced to rotate the analog stick a lot, which as anyone who’s held an N64 controller knows, is not fun. Finally, having all progress destroyed by Chance Time from another player is the stuff that nightmares are made of.

19 Super Mario Land

Toughest Level: The Entirety Of World 4

Notable for being the first Mario game on Nintendo’s very first Game Boy handheld, Super Mario Land is a weird case. It feels and looks like a basic Mario game at first glance, but it has some unique elements and tricky gameplay hidden beneath its simple exterior.

One distinct aspect is its quickly escalating difficulty throughout. Like other Mario games, its simple controls are easy to pick up, but things just feel different. Mario’s momentum is off compared to normal and the small sprites and screen size of the Game Boy make otherwise easy jumps that much more challenging. Thankfully, this game isn’t nearly as long as others, so its frustration lasts only for a little while.

18 Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

Toughest Level: Every Ultimate Challenge

Mario + Rabbids was a crossover that no one saw coming when it was launched. Players had no idea what to expect from this game, leading to expectations being quite tepid before release. However, even with Ubisoft spearheading the development of this title, players should’ve kept more faith in Nintendo and the respect they have for Mario’s name since Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle ended up being a great game that deserves a ton of love in its own right.

One of the game’s biggest achievements was its riveting tactical combat that ended up being quite fun in its own right. Fans were pleasantly surprised by the quality of this title and spent a lot of hours on it, making it clear why players were hyped for a sequel to a game that had set a high standard when it comes to placing Mario in a tactical turn-based strategy game. While Kingdom Battle is easy to learn for the most part, there are moments when it ramps up the difficulty and forces players to learn how the game works.

17 Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Toughest Level: Chapter Eight (The Thousand-Year Door)

Often regarded as the best in the Paper Mario franchise, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is one of GameCube’s finest RPGs with a sense of humor, a rewarding combat system, and great side quests. However, those wishing to complete the game fully might want to consult the help of a guide; as there’s much to do and plenty of tricky foes to defeat.

Aside from the usual confusion that comes with most RPGs, some of the boss battles in this game will leave players flustered and force them to return to the drawing board for more level grinding after being soundly defeated. Luckily it manages to keep the player engaged the whole time and is worth the effort.

16 Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Toughest Level: Bulrush Express

Most people assumed that 2D (or 2.5D, in this case) Mario doesn’t hold the same allure as it once did. Gaming has evolved, after all, and the 2.5D release that preceded Wonder wasn’t all that special. So, fans were glad to see that the Switch was still relevant even after so many years courtesy of Wonder‘s muted brilliance.

The characters in the game look so emotive, and the movement is just perfect, letting players attain a sense of precision while also punishing mistakes. The game isn’t afraid to ramp up the challenge, with some levels requiring nigh-perfect reflexes for players to attain victory.

15 Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island

Toughest Level: Crazy Maze Days

The often-forgotten sequel to Super Mario World, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island looks like it should be one of the easiest Mario games on the surface. After all, how can a game with aesthetics seemingly ripped from a children’s pop-up book be that hard?

The game lulls players into a false sense of security with its graphics, however. Many stages have unforgiving stage hazards and expect the player to make pixel-perfect jumps. We pity those who attempt to 100% this game as some of the collectibles are hair-rippingly difficult to find.

14 Super Mario Odyssey

Toughest Level: Darker Side

The newest title of the series Super Mario Odyssey is difficult for one purpose alone, and that is for completionists out there, as there are 999 Power Moons in total to collect. These Moons could be hidden anywhere on the massive worlds inside Super Mario Odyssey.

Some Moons are hidden under particular ground pound locations, and others are hidden high above the world and have to use a very particular set of jumps, which requires a lot of practice to be able to accomplish. Most of them are pretty easy to find. However, the last couple that is needed on a level will be exceptionally tricky to get. Adding the secret stages and boss challenges that conclude the game, and Odyssey can turn into a surprisingly rough ride.

13 Super Mario Galaxy 2

Toughest Level: The Perfect Run (Grandmaster Galaxy)

The sequel to Super Mario Galaxy was everything the already well-crafted first game had, but refined and further fleshed out. When it comes to difficulty Super Mario Galaxy 2 isn’t that hard, that is until the prankster comets fly over individual worlds.

The comets cause special conditions to occur on specific levels of that world. An example would be a speedy comet granting a time limit required to complete the stage, or the fast-foe comet that speeds up all enemies and obstacles on stage. These pesky comets truly rank up the difficulty by quite a bit.

But even the core experience gets tough after a few worlds. Finishing the game requires more skill than the first Galaxy, and completing it can be galactically hard.

12 Super Mario 64

Toughest Level: Rainbow Ride

It’s hard to deny that Super Mario 64 looks hasn’t aged greatly, which is understandable being the first 3D Mario game. Still, it remains a masterpiece when it comes to its legacy, and much of its gameplay as well. Back in the 90s, playing this was jarring for many gamers on account of its open-world aspects, and its variety of collectibles that could be overwhelming.

But even today, the game proves tricky when it comes to gathering certain stars and wrestling with the wonky camera. An example of a particularly tough mission includes Mario using his flying cap to collect ten red coins that are scattered about the sky. This would be tough enough, as one must be precise to nab them, but to top it all off, there’s a fairly slim time limit to boot.

11 Mario + Rabbids Sparks Of Hope

Toughest Level: Palette Prime

After Kingdom Battle took Nintendo fans by surprise and helped them understand the potential a Mario strategy game has, fans were hyped to the moon and back for Sparks of Hope. The sequel was well-received for the most part, but some people felt like Sparks of Hope wasn’t a massive upgrade over the first game.

Regardless, players still loved the strategic gameplay present in this title, with the difficulty being enhanced considerably compared to its predecessor. Players have to understand the best way possible to deal with their enemies, making the most of the tools at their disposal to become more adept at this game and take out tougher enemies with a combination of strategy and skill.

10 Super Mario World

Toughest Level: Soda Lake

Generally, this is one of the most accessible titles to play in many areas, but it’s genuinely an amazing game. However, in this game, there are quite a few secrets to find that lead to Star Road being discovered. These secret stages are where Super Mario World ramps up in terms of its action and difficulty.

Most stages possess outlines of blocks that appear in large numbers; these can be filled in by finding a key in the level and taking that key to a keyhole residing at a hidden exit. This alternate exit may lead to another route of levels to take, or it might lead to a colored block switch, which colors in some of the outlined blocks, and once all colored switches have been pressed, leads to new exits of certain stages.

9 New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Toughest Level: World 9-7

The Super Mario Bros. series has churned out many great platformers that are pretty accessible without being too easy. In the case of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, there’s no denying that Nintendo pushed the envelope when it came to developing a pretty challenging game on the Wii.

Some of the levels in New Super Mario Bros. Wii are extremely tough and will frustrate many Mario veterans. Thankfully, with enough perseverance, players will be able to save Princess Peach while also improving their platforming skills!

8 Super Mario Bros.

Toughest Level: World 8-3

This is the iconic title that began the legend of Mario, way back on the NES; however, back in the day, it was a pinnacle of gaming history. Having only a set number of lives to get through eight harsh worlds with four levels in each world is no easy feat.

Even more so, extra lives are scarce at best, and players mostly just acquire them through amassing 100 coins throughout their run. Provided that some lives remain, players will be given the option to restart the stage — absent save points. However, running out of the few lives players generally gather means it’s the end, and it’s back to the beginning of World 1 for more punishment.

7 Super Mario Sunshine

Toughest Level: Pachinko Machine

Sunshine is almost undeniably the hardest 3D Mario title, despite its seemingly cheery exterior and themes of cleanliness. Water is a primary mechanic in this title, and by using Mario’s water machine called F.L.U.D.D, the plumber can perform all kinds of satisfying moves and tasks.

But a few of these deceptively colorful levels can be the stuff of nightmares, and produce feelings as grim as Shadow Mario himself. One example includes riding down a poison waterfall on a leaf collecting blue coins and that infamous pachinko machine level. This is compounded by having to battle with the worst camera in history. Another involves essentially any level that features a watermelon.

Despite some chaotic, teeth-grinding moments though, jetting around in F.L.U.D.D. and spraying the colorful locales clean yields some fun, satisfying bouts and great memories.

6 Super Mario Kart

Toughest Level: Donut Plains 3

In many ways, Super Mario Kart is one of the most important games Nintendo has ever made. The kart racing genre never existed before Nintendo made it a thing with this title, and players simply couldn’t get enough of racing around as their favorite characters while using a wealth of powerups to turn the tide of a race in their favor.

Of course, given the old-school nature of this title, it’s only a given that Super Mario Kart is a great example of what the term ‘Nintendo hard’ means. The AI racers are brutal and aggressive, giving the player no breathing room and making the act of winning a single race feel like a monumental achievement.

5 Super Mario Bros. 3

Toughest Level: World 8-Airship

Though not the hardest of the 2D Mario games, Super Mario Bros. 3 was a step in the right direction with its refinements over its predecessors. Sure, there may be the inclusion of those rather cheap Warp Whistles that essentially allow players to bypass half of the game. Yet, this also brought players the disservice of missing some of the best 2D platforming gameplay out there.

For those who didn’t opt for the cheap game skips and played this memorable journey properly, it was a challenge. But while it’s frustratingly tough at times — especially the last few worlds — it was also fun trying to overcome the challenge. This classic game rewards those who learn the chaotic stages through trial and error, though it also emphasizes raw skill. These traits are really what makes Super Mario Bros. 3 perhaps the best Mario game to date.